The Women's Champions League draw took place on Friday afternoon and Arsenal were dealt a couple of blockbuster encounters, with Juventus and Bayern Munich joining the Gunners in Group C.
As well as Norwegian champions Valerenga, Arsenal will take on German champions Bayern Munich and Italian side Juventus, who finished as runners-up to Roma in Serie A.
The Gunners have beaten both Juventus and Bayern Munich in recent European campaigns, but will face Valerenga for the first time on their return to the European stage.
After a painful defeat to Paris FC in qualifying last season, Arsenal made no such mistakes this year.
Having dispatched both Rangers and Rosenborg in the early qualifying stages, Jonas Eidevall's side overcame a 1 - 0 defecit from a first-leg defeat in Sweden against BK Hacken, cruising to a 4 - 0 win in the second leg at Meadow Park.
The Gunners' reward for an impressive qualifying campaign is a couple of wonderful European away days to Turin and Munich.
Arsenal start with the toughest game in the group, a trip to the Allianz Arena to take on Bayern Munich. The German champions didn't lose a single home game last season and have started this season with three straight wins.
The head-to-head record between the sides does favour Bayern Munich, who have won three of the four Champions League meetings, including a 1 - 0 win over Arsenal two years ago.
That being said, Arsenal's only competitive victory over Bayern Munich came in that same famous Champions League run, winning the return leg 2 - 0 to progress to the semi-finals. It's a game remembered for many things, but none quite as spectacular as Frida Maanum's outrageous equalising goal.
Arsenal have shown a real desire to make a mark on the European stage in recent seasons, selling out the Emirates for their semi-final defeat to Wolfsburg. Failing to qualify last season was a huge failure, and nights like the one they're set for at the Allianz are exactly where the Gunners belong.
It's not only about taking on the biggest and best in Europe however. To be successful in this competition, Arsenal will need to get the job done against Norwegian champions Valerenga.
This season marks the first time Valerenga have reached the group stages, and the first time in any format of the Champions League that they've been one of the last 16 teams remaining in the competition.
Whilst Arsenal of course know from experience that they can't underestimate a qualifier in this competition, Valerenga are unlikely to prove much of a threat to Arsenal, nor to Bayern or Juventus for that matter.
If Jonas Eidevall's side show up for the occasion, they ought really to have too much quality for their Norwegian opponents, who they host in their first European game at the Emirates since that heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Wolfsburg in 2023.
Arsenal's third and fourth group matches will take place against another familiar opponent in Juventus. In that glorious run to the semi-finals, Arsenal beat Juventus 1 - 0 in the group stages at the Emirates through a Vivianne Miedema goal.
But that night was, perhaps unlike most of Arsenal Women's great nights, all about the defending. Juventus pushed hard for an equalising goal but Arsenal's backline, led by captain-on-the-night Leah Williamson, were extraordinary.
If the Gunners are to replicate their former success in this competition, they will need more strong performances like the one they produced on that cold December night in North London and indeed the one they produced in Turin to earn a credible 1 - 1 draw.
Their opponents, particularly Bayern Munich, will be unforgiving, and with Juventus also in Group C, any errors for Arsenal could cost them a place in the knockout stages.
With big crowds expected at the Emirates, the Gunners will hope to challenge for the Champions League title whoever they face, and may well take some attendance records down along their way.
Arsenal UWCL Fixtures:
MD1: Bayern Munich (A), Wed 9th Oct (17:45 KO)
MD2: Valerenga (H), Wed 16th Oct (20:00 KO)
MD3: Juventus (A), Tue 12th Oct (17:45 KO)
MD4: Juventus (H), Thu 21st Oct (20:00 KO)
MD5: Valerenga (A), Thu 12th Dec (17:45 KO)
MD6: Bayern Munich (H), Wed 18th Dec (20:00 KO)
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